Aerosol dispenser



Dec. l1, 1956 R. H. ABPLANALP 2,773,722

AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed March 2, 1955 E l l l n l l 5 INVENTOR ATTOUnited States Patent O r'ce AEROSOL DISPENSER Robert H. Abplanalp,Bronx, N. Y., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half toJohn J. Baessler, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application March 2, 1955, Serial No. 491,566

3 Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention is an aerosol dispenser and, whileadapted to dispense aerosols generally, was primarily conceived for thedispensing of tire extinguishing aerosols.

Ordinarily, aerosol dispensers are provided with dispensing valves whichmay be opened from time to time to dispense relatively fractionalquantities of the contents of the container as and when required.However, in a lire extinguisher, it is desirable and entirely practicalto dispense the entire contents of the container at one time and thepresent invention is constituted for such an operation.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an aerosoldispenser which is normally sealed, but is provided with a push buttonand associated discharge nozzle, the push button being so constitutedthat, when manually operated, it will break a seal and thus permit theentire contents of the container to be discharged therefrom.

Speaking generally, the present invention comprises an appropriatecontainer to the top of which is attached a tubular outlet having acentral passage normally blocked by a disruptable diaphragm seal whichserves to herrnetically seal the contents of the container. The usualdip tube is associated with the lower end of the tubular outlet and apush button, provided with an appropriate nozzle, is slidably associatedwith the upper end of said outlet. The push button has a plungerextending into the upper end of the outlet and adapted, when forciblypressed against the diaphragm seal, to rupture the latter and permit thedischarge of the contents of the container. The push button and tubularoutlet are so associated that, when the seal is broken, the pressurewithin the container serves to produce a tight joint between the tubularoutlet and the push button, to preclude leakage at this point andconfine the discharge of the material to the nozzle.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims,when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates different practical embodiments ofthe invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Fig. l is a central section through a dispenser embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Figs. 3 and 4 are central sections through tubular outlets showing sealsof diierent forms.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a cup, such as commonly used onaerosol dispensers. Such cups are generally made of metal, the upperedge of which is adapted to be rolled to form a hermetic seal with theupper portion of the body 2 of the container.

In accordance with the present invention, I mount upon this cup atubular outlet 3 preferably in the form of a molded plastic and inasmuchas it must be rigidly secured to the cup, the cup is provided with acentral perfora- Patented Dec. 11, 1956 tion and the lower end of thetubular outlet is molded in place on the cup as shown, to provide apermanent mounting therewith as shown at 4. Within the lower end of thetubular outlet 3 is formed an annular ridge 5 adapted to hold in placethe upper end of the usual dip tube 6 which extends to the bottom of thecontainer body. The upper end of the tubular outlet is provided with anexternal bead 7 extending entirely around its periphery.

Mounted for sliding movement on the tubular outlet is ya push button 8,provided with an axial discharge duct merging into a laterally directednozzle 9. The push button is provided at its lower end with a skirt 10,undercut as shown at 11. The diameter of the undercut portion issubstantially the same as rthe outer diameter of the bead 7, while belowthe undercut portion the internal diameter of the skirt is substantiallyrthe same as the outer diameter of the tubular outlet. The push buttonis pressure molded from an appropriate plastic, such as an acetate, andembodies suiicient resiliency to permit the lower portion of the skirtto be sprung downwardly over the bead 7, so that rthe bead may bepositioned within the undercut portion 11, which is made sufficientlydeep to permit of vertical sliding movement of the push button on thetubular outlet.

Arranged coaxially of the skirt and extending downwardly from the pushbutton so as to project into the passage of the tubular outlet is atubular plunger 12, the lower end of which is chamfered as shown at 13.lmmediately below the lower end of which plunger the passage through thetubular outlet is closed by a diaphragm seal 14 in the form of apartition molded integrally with the tubular outlet. This seal may be ofany appropriate form. In Fig. l it is shown as having parallel upper andlower planes. -ln Fig. 3, it is tapered to its center, while in Fig. 4,it is tapered to one side. 1`he present invention is not limited to theparticular shaping, the criterion being that, when the push button ispressed to force the lower end of the plunger against this seal, thelatter will be broken -to release the contents of the container. Inpractice, this seal may be relatively thin because the passage throughthe tubular outlet is of relatively small diameter and the pressureactually exerted thereon by the pressure packed material in thecontainer can be readily withstood by a diaphragm seal suiciently thinso that it can be readily disrupted by linger pressure applied on theupper end of the push button.

The parts are so proportioned as to normally occupy the relativepositions shown in Fig. l with the lower end of the plunger restinglightly upon the diaphragm or slightly spaced above the same.

When it is desired `to discharge the contents of the container, it isonly necessary to press downwardly upon the push button S with suicientforce to rupture the diaphragm seal 14. As soon as this occurs, thematerial in the container is released and is discharged upwardly throughthe dip tube, through the tubular outlet 3, through the discharge ductof the push button and out through the nozzle.

After the diaphragm has been broken and the material starts to flow, thefinger pressure on the push button should be discontinued to permit thegaseous pressure within the container to act upon the push button andforce it upwardly, so that the base of the undercut portion 11 willtightly seal against the under side of the bead 7 and form therewith asufficiently tight joint to preclude leakage at this point. When theentire contents have been discharged, the container is discarded for itis adapted for single use purposes.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the simplicityof the structure and its ease and in- 3 fallibility of operation. failto operate Vfor, When the seal is broken, there is an unobstructedoutlet provided for the pressure packed material. All of the partsentering into the structure may be manufactured by quantity productionand `at low cost and assembled without diiculty by automatic machinery.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood asfully commensurate wit-h the Vappended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising: a container closure There are novalves to clog or cup having an opening in its base, an upstandingtubular free end thereof, and a push button permanently mounted 20 onsaid outlet and having a skirt closely embracing the 2,773,722 A Y L youtlet below the bead and undercutto house the beadk and permit axialmovement of the push button relative to the tubular outlet, said pushbutton being provided with a plunger extending into the passage of theoutletk and adapted to disrupt the seal therein when the push button ispressed to permit the passage of liquid from an associated containerthrough a discharge duct formed in the push button.

2. An aerosol dispenser according to claim 1, wherein both the outletand push button are plastic moldings.

3. An aerosol dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the channel of thetubular outlet has a molded-in-place bond with the margin of the openingof the cup.

Zellweger i June21, 1955`

